Film Theory: Slapstick

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  • Slapstick is not only an element in comedies but also a genre in its own right, embodying in the early silent films. Physical comedy such as pratfalls, tripping, falling, and other assorted lighthearted injuries are highlighted over dialogue, plot and character development in Slapstick films. The rapid editing style is used in order to keep the action moving and cartoonish style of violence that is predominantly harmless and goofy in tone is a distinguishing feature in slapstick films (All movie, 2018).
(Figure 1: The Vagabond, sourced by Google)
  • In the 1920s, Silent cinema leaned heavily on slapstick’s entertaining visual hijinks (All movie, 2018). Charlie Chaplin(1889-1977) is one of the most outstanding representatives of silent comedians. The movies he directed, such as ‘The Vagabond’, often implies social commentary, representing one man’s struggle to survive in a rapidly changing, insane society.
(Figure 2: Animal crackers, sourced by Google)
  • Horpo Marx (1910-1963) and Groucho Marx (1905-1976) expressed Anarchism in their films.
(Figure 3: The Gold Rush, sourced by Google)
  • Slapstick relies on the basic tension between control and its loss. (Filmreference.com, 2018)
(Figure 4: Me, Myself, And Irene (2000), sourced by Google)
  • Charlie Chaplin was adept in physical eruption and extreme body comedy. In the Tramp, Charlie tries to uphold dignity even though he had an extremely Unfortunate experience. The humor lies in the comparison between his social etiquette(he holds his silverware nicely) and Chaotic society (he is having to eat his own boot from starvation in The Gold Rush, 1925). (Filmreference.com, 2018)
  • Jim Carrey might beat himself up mercilessly in Me, Myself, And Irene (2000), however, it seems like he abandons restraint while punching himself, we know that physical control should be performed this routine. (Filmreference.com, 2018)

Reference:

AllMovie. (2018). Subgenre – Slapstick | AllMovie. [online] Available at: http://www.allmovie.com/subgenre/slapstick-d524 [Accessed 8 August. 2018].

Filmreference.com. (2018). Slapstick Comedy – film, cinema. [online] Available at: http://www.filmreference.com/encyclopedia/Romantic-Comedy-Yugoslavia/Slapstick-Comedy.html [Accessed 28 Auguest. 2018].

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